Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-02
BODIES BURIED AT SEA.
steamers Have No Means of Keep.
ing Them.

ing Them.
When a death occurs at sea GER
tificate is filed containing all informa-
ton as to the probable causes which
produced death, and also as to the
manner of disposing Of the body. The
bodies of persons who die at sea are
kept twenty-four hours. In bygone
times a superstition prevailed among
sailors that if a dead body was kept
aboard vessel destruction would be
its inevitable doom, but the notion
does not exist among modern sailors.
Monday, August 9Th, B. B. Dayton of
Amboy, New York, while returning
from abroad on the Cunard steamer
Etruria, died suddenly and his body
was buried at sea. The action of the
officers in thus disposing of the body
gave rise to much adverse criticism.
Some of the passengers said that the
services were not of a becoming ma
ture. This report has reached the
ears of the dead mans wife and fam
lily and their friends. In order that
the facts of the case might be under
stood, the following statement was
made by the officers of the ship;
"The body was discovered dead in
the state-room about 8 O'Clock Monday
evening. Immediately the doctor Of
the ship made it ready for burial.
After the usual preparations were COM
pleted the remains were laid out and
enshrouded with an English flag, be-
cause that contains cross. Tuesday
morning the body was sewed up in
canvas and then deposited in a
wooden-box, covered over with the
flag. Solemnly and with every evil
dence of respect the remains were
carried on the shoulders Of eight sal
lors to the after-gangway. Chief Off
Ger Seccomb, humane and Christian
sailor, had charge of the funeral ar
rangements. A few moments after
8 O'Clock Tuesday morning the ships
officers and lage number of the
cabin passengers encircled the body
and the funeral services were con-
Quoted by a minister, one of the pas
sengers. At their conclusion and
when the minister read the words, 81
now consign this body to the deep"
the box, heavily weighted down with
iron, was slid into the ocean. No
secrecy prevailed, and everything was
done in proper and orderly manner,
being witnessed by any of the passen-
gers who were so desirous.
A burial at sea is a solemn and inn
pressive event, and not many passen-
gers like to witness it. A death at
sea casts gloom over the rest of the
passengers, and, naturally enough,
the officers try to do everything con-
nected with the burial with as little
ostentation and display as possible.
On every steamer the custom is to
bury the dead at sea. The captain of
the ship is the sole arbiter in this
matter. Whenever it is possible the
body is carried into port, provided the
officers are convinced that the body
will be claimed upon its arrival. All
seamen are firm supporters of the
theory that all persons dying on the
high seas, unless short distance
from port, should be given up to the
deep. On a heavily-laden steamer no
room is provided where dead body
could be possibly preserved. The
medicine chest usually carried does
not contain the necessary articles re-
quired to embalm the body.
The French and White Star lines
carry metallic coffins, and where the
friends of a deceased person manifest
desire or are anxious to undergo the
expense, the body will be preserved
and carried to port if it can be done
without danger to the other passen-
gers. Numerous cases have occurred
where men of wealth and distinction
travelling for their health have been